IRLAG Newsletter

March Team Newsletter

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:04:00 -0500

Welcome to the March edition of our IRLAG Newsletter. Each month we have new and exciting information to share with you all about endurance training, team and coaching support, special events coming up in our community, sponsor highlights and nutrition. Please take a moment to read through the news so you can stay on top of all the latest updates. You all are amazing and inspirational. Thank you all so much for being a part of our IRLAG community and supporting women of all ages and abilities in our efforts to empower and motivate all women in endurance sports.

IRaceLikeAGirl 5K- Women’s Day Virtual 5K on March 7, 2021

The 5th Annual IRLAG 5K is coming up this weekend! If you have not yet registered, now is the time to do it! Please join us for this fun celebration for Women's Day this Saturday! Don’t forget to post your photos on social media and tag us @iracelikeagirl and #irlag5k.

https://snohomishrunningstore.square.site/product/i-race-like-a-girl-virtual-5k/290

IRaceLikeAGirl Team Member Spotlight

Each month, we will highlight one of our fabulous athletes in this newsletter. This March, we would like you to meet Dora Sari! I am lucky enough to have raced with Dora on the IRLAG Zwift E-Racing Squad this winter and she is one incredible human!

What is your name and where do you live?

Dora Sari - Geneva, Switzerland

What inspired you to become a member of the IRLAG team?

The support and the strength of members!

How long have you been racing and what distances/discipline do you enjoy the most?

4 years, olympic (increasing the distance though)

What do you consider a highlight of your athletic journey to date?

My swim during the Boston Tri in 2019

What does "IRLAG" mean to you? What is your favorite part about this team?

INSPIRATION

Share some special aspects of your life with us outside of your athletic endeavors. Family, career, where you live, hobbies, etc.

I recently moved to Switzerland after 4 years in the US. I am originally from Hungary. I have been on the road for quite some time. My father was a pro-tennis player and one of my favorite people in the world. My mother, sister and niece are the strongest women I have ever met!

It is fantastic to learn a little bit more about you, Dora! Thank you for sharing some special facts with the team!

Feature Articles from IRLAG Teammates and Girls Get Gritty

This March, we are featuring an article on Sweat and Hydration by Leslie Hiller.

I don’t know about you ladies but I am a crazy sweaty girl! I have had problems in the past with cramping because I did not realize just how much sodium and electrolytes I was losing! Being in tune with your sweat output levels and your sodium concentration and dialing in that training and race nutrition to highlight your individual needs is vital for your best performance. Lesli shares some of her insight below in her article from the Girls Get Gritty webpage:

https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/sweatingandhydration/

We also have an inspiring blog written by Amy Woods on the “Upside of Injury”

“Triathlon has helped me to see exercise as more than a tool for weight loss. In fact, even the word “exercise” has disappeared from my vernacular. I now ‘train’, which for me, means looking at my body as what it can do for me, not as something that needs to look good in a pair of jeans. Triathlon has also helped me see food as fuel, not the enemy.

Through triathlon, I have realized that I am stronger and tougher than I think. Once you do that first rough open water swim in a race, you realize that you can face anything. I have met some of my best friends through this sport.

Most importantly, I just feel like a bad ass when I say I am a triathlete.”

https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/news-5/detail/370-id.209715348.html

Team Sponsors and Discount Codes

We are especially lucky on the IRLAG team to have so many generous deals from our sponsors. I hope you will all take advantage of these amazing discounts and try out our sponsor products! Thank you Angela for providing us with top of the line sponsor support and introducing us to terrific businesses in our sport. I’d like to give a special shout out to all of our sponsors who provide us with terrific incentives throughout the season via our team challenges and events. Each month, we will highlight a few of these key companies.

This March, we would like you to learn more about our sponsor companies BlueSeventy and Headsweats!

BlueSeventy

Blueseventy has released three new wetsuits for 2021. Their iconic professional level Helix has received an update to increase distance per stroke and make the suit come off faster in transition. Their entry level Fusion suit was completely redone with more flexible materials and a lower neckline to increase comfort. They've also released a new suit called the Glide. This suit was made for the budget conscious athletes and swimmers who want a moderate amount of warmth and buoyancy. You can view the entire range of wetsuits and accessories at www.blueseventy.com . As a team member you receive 20% off! - codes found in our club!

HeadSweats

Headsweats is proud to partner with I Race Like A Girl by offering its team members and friends 25% off of online purchases through 2021. Headsweats is recognized as the world leader in ultra-light, supremely wicking headwear and athletic apparel. A variety of high-quality performance products made of REPREVE® recycled fibers are now available online. Whether you’re looking for headwear or apparel we’ve got you covered – all backed by an unconditional warranty. Headsweats is sought-after to optimize performance whether training at the gym, hiking the trails, pounding the pavement or celebrating on the podium. For more information visit Headsweats.com.

March Team Challenges are up in CLUB

We have some exciting challenges for you all this month on our IRLAG team club page! Members only. *If you want to be a member - email Angela directly at iracelikeagirl@gmail.com

SPARK JOY! #sparkjoy is our theme for the month of March!

What you can win this month:

CALILOKO Recovery and Compression top/bottoms!
TOPO ATHLETIC SHOES
Powerbar product grab bags (supply of powerbar products)
BLUE RUB products giveaway bags
Zealios Sunscreen Packets
SIDA INSOLES
SLATE MILK 12 pack
JUICE PERFORMER PACK
RISE COFFEE
BlueSeventy Goggles!

BONUS BONUS CHALLENGE! Thanks to our amazing sponsor NORMATEC, we want to spark joy in more ladies lives! Normatec is giving away to 2 members: Blue Tooth Hypervolts ($450 in value) AND 2 Normatec Leg 2.0 Compression systems ($1600 each!) - to help support our team recruitment and #sparkjoy challenges in March. (DETAILS IN OUR MEMBERS AREA!)

Recipes to Love and Share

This month, I found a great resource online at Shaw Simple Swaps. Check out the delicious recipe below and try it out for some extra pick me up for your next training session! It’s a quick meal to make!

https://shawsimpleswaps.com/smashed-baked-potato-nourish-bowl/

Smashed Baked Potato Nourish Bowl

Ingredients

1 small russet potato baked

1/2 teaspoon nutritional yeast

1/3 cup black beans

1 cup chopped spinach

1 cup red cabbage

1/3 medium avocado chopped

1/4 cup hummus

1 teaspoon Sriracha

Instructions

Reheat baked potato for 30 seconds in the microwave.

Remove and slice vertically in half, then horizontally in half again.

Press the back of fork directly down into potato to "smash" it!

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of nutritional yeast over the potato and cover with black beans.

Arrange spinach and cabbage around the potato, and top with chopped avocado and hummus.

Drizzle with Sriracha and enjoy!

Nutrition

IRaceLikeAGirl E-Racing Team on Zwift!

Guess what, ladies? We are finishing up Session #2 of the Zwift Racing League this week but we have another session coming up in early April! Now is the perfect time to join us in all the fun as we head into a new Tuesday race series for the Spring. If you are interested in joining in, please e-mail Amanda Wendorff at amanda.j.wendorff@gmail.com.

The IRACELIKEAGIRL/ SISU E-Racing team is appropriate for riders of all levels, from PROs to beginners. Our supportive community is highly engaged online and participates in multiple race series on Zwift each week. Additionally, team members participate in formal and informal workouts and meetups, while sharing information, strategies and techniques for improving cycling, both in-game and in real life.

You can follow along and check on everyone’s progress by visiting the Facebook page for the E-Racing Team here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790418584457764.

And, that is a wrap for now!

Please always feel free to reach out to iracelikeagirl@gmail.com if you have something exciting to share with the team which you think would make an interesting addition to our newsletter! I am so inspired by all of you incredible women and I love to learn more about you, your dreams and what makes you “Race Like A Girl!”. Let’s continue to grow our community through love, support, passion and amazing communication!

Angela Naeth (Founder) and Courtney Culligan - Team IRACELIKEAGIRL.

February Team Newsletter

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 06:36:00 -0500

Welcome back to another edition of the IRLAG Newsletter. We have more great information to share with you all about training, team support and special events coming up in our community this February. Please take a moment to read through the news so you can stay on top of all the fun. Thank you all so much for being a part of our IRLAG community and supporting women of all ages and abilities in our efforts to empower and motivate all women in endurance sports.

IRaceLikeAGirl Team Member Spotlight

Each month, we will highlight one of our fabulous athletes in this newsletter. This February, we would like you to meet Ellen Messinger-Patton from Reno, Nevada.

How long have you been racing and what distances/discipline do you enjoy the most?

I’ve been a runner for ~7 years, and a triathlete for ~5 years. I like running the best, but have come to enjoy swimming a lot as well. I haven’t settled on a favorite distance yet, I get the itch to do different ones all the time!

What do you consider a highlight of your athletic journey to date?

Crossing the finish line of my first 70.3 was an incredible moment. I didn’t think it was possible for me to achieve something like that, and when I did it was complete and utter unbridled joy.

What does "IRLAG" mean to you? What is your favorite part about this team? *

For me, racing like a girl means being who you are authentically while supporting others who are doing are doing the same. I feel my best when I’m surrounded by strong women, and I love being part of a community.

Share some special aspects of your life with us outside of your athletic endeavors.

In my normal life, I’m a health inspector in Reno NV. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for about 8 years, and we have two greyhounds. I volunteer coach for Girls On The Run, and have been asked to help coach a local Middle School Cross Country team next year. I use endurance athletics as a stress release, and it is my main hobby. I’m terrible at keeping in contact with people, but am trying to be better so I can make new friends!

It is fantastic to learn a little bit more about you, Ellen!

Feature Articles from IRLAG Teammates and Girls Get Gritty

This Month we are featuring an article on strength training for triathletes from Nathalie de Champlain who is a team mate and owner of Caliloko! She is sharing her top reasons why strength training is vital for endurance athletes and she has a specific training plan for you which she presented to our virtual camp last month. Also, make sure you check out her amazing compression line at https://www.caliloko.com. I love love love my Caliloko items!

“Due to the overwhelming amount of time that a triathlete needs to spend in the pool, on the bike and running on the road or treadmill, many triathletes sacrifice strength training in favor of additional swim, bike or run sessions.

As a consequence, general strength is too often lacking for age group athletes. Combining multi-joint and full-body movements, targeting major muscle groups used for swimming, cycling, and running, is for sure the best way to feel strong during the race season.” Her complete article is linked below. Enjoy!

Top Reasons Why Strength Training For Triathletes Is Key • Caliloko

We also have an inspiring new blog up written by Stephanie Jinright!

You can read all about her “Newbie Triathlete Journey” here on the GirlsGetGritty website! Thank you for sharing, Steph!

“With this series on GirlsGetGritty, I hope to show people what a person can accomplish with a little determination and hard work. I’ll be posting regularly about my experiences as I train and hope to introduce you to some of the key figures in this aspect of my life. I’ll also try to have a focus topic/theme for each week such as fueling, cross training, nutrition, menstruation, support networks, etc. I hope to bring you along on this journey to give you some laughter & some motivation and to encourage you to set your own goals and push through barriers to reach them.”

https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/news-10/detail/370-id.209715307.html

Team Sponsors and Discount Codes

We have a lot of special deals from our sponsors this month. I hope you all will take advantage of these amazing discounts and try out our sponsor products! Thank you Angela for providing us with top of the line goodies and introducing us to terrific support businesses in our sport.

Full Spectrum VID CBD Oil. www.vid-cbd.com I have been using this oil for little over two years for sleep, overall health and wellbeing. If you haven’t used it and/or looking to purchase it for someone I would recommend starting at the 600mg dose (half a dropper twice a day). CBD has many benefits and you can read about it on the website. This is WELL tested and approved to be 0.3% THC. Code Angela20 gives you 20% off plus free shipping! *All options from this company are the same - just different names for different shops/etc.USE CODE: free2021 for a free 600mg CBD oil

Athletic Greens

Receive a free Vitamin D and travel pack with a new subscription!

https://www.athleticgreens.com/angela

Stock Up On Powerbar https://sport.powerbar.co

Powerbar Nutrition - Back in the USA, Powerbar has the best gels, and sports drink available. Limited use but this code gives you 25% off all products!

Code ANGELAPOWER25

February Team Challenges are up in CLUB

We have some exciting challenges for you all this month on our IRLAG team club page (team member access only). Everyone who participates will be entered for a drawing to win these sponsor items!

CALILOKO Recovery and Compression top/bottoms!
TOPO ATHLETIC SHOES
Powerbar product grab bags (supply of powerbar products)
BLUE RUB products giveaway bags
Zealios Sunscreen Packets
SIDA INSOLES
SLATE MILK 12 pack
JUICE PERFORMER PACK
RISE COFFEE
Blue Seventy Goggles!

IRaceLikeAGirl 5K- Women’s Day Virtual 5K on March 7, 2021

Join us for our 5th Annual IRACELIKEGIRL Virtual 5K to help Celebrate Women's Day on March There will be lots of fun giveaways and this race will support our youth team, scholarship, and future events! Be sure to register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/VIRTUAL/iracelikeagirl5k

Recipes to Love and Share

This month’s recipe to Love and to Share is Ginger Chicken Stir Fry and is one featured by our very own IRLAG teammate Kirsten Miller. Kirsten owns Nourish2Flourish here in Denver, Colorado. She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) and she is also a Certified Sports Nutrition Consultant (CSNC) and Certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (CNTP). She believes that finding the right nutritional balance is the key to peak performance in all aspects of your life.

“I love this recipe for a quick meal with some umami! I eat it over greens, but it also works over rice or cauliflower rice.”- K

Ginger Chicken Stir Fry

1/3 cup gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos (soy free

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 1/2 lb. chicken breast, cubed

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

3 cups broccoli, chopped into florets

1 cup asparagus, chopped

2 cups kale, chopped

Mix together garlic, ginger and tamari in a small mason jar.

Add the coconut oil to a large frying pan (I love my big cast iron skillet!) over medium heat.

Add the onion and chicken.

Saute until chicken is mostly cooked, about 10 minutes.

Add in the broccoli and asparagus.

Saute for another 5 minutes.

Pour the sauce from the jar and stir to combine.

Add the kale and cook until wilted.

Option to change vegetables to anything that sounds good… bell peppers, cauliflowers, snow peas, mushrooms, etc.

IRaceLikeAGirl E-Racing Team on Zwift!

Alright, my friends, I just need to finish this newsletter with a HUGE shout out to our IRLAG E-Racing Team who is currently entering the 4th week of racing in session #2 of the Zwift Racing League. I personally have just joined in the fun as a member of the team and it has been a blast! After three years on Zwift riding my own personal favorite routes and doing some group events, I finally decided to jump on the virtual cycling race circuit with our teammates and it has been fabulous. If you are interested in joining in, please e-mail Angela at iracelikeagirl@gmail.com

The IRACELIKEAGIRL/ SISU E-Racing team is appropriate for riders of all levels, from PROs to beginners. Our supportive community is highly engaged online and participates in multiple race series on Zwift each week. Additionally, team members participate in formal and informal workouts and meetups, while sharing information, strategies and techniques for improving cycling, both in-game and in real life.

You can follow along and check on everyone’s progress by visiting the Facebook page for the E-Racing Team here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790418584457764.

And, that is a wrap for now!

Please always feel free to reach out to me (Courtney ;)) at courtneyculligan@yahoo.com or Angela at iracelikeagirl@gmail.com if you have something exciting to share with the team which you think would make an interesting addition to our newsletter. I am so inspired by all of you incredible women and I love to learn more about you, your dreams and what makes you “Race Like A Girl!”. Let’s continue to grow our community through love, support, passion and amazing communication!

January 2021 Team Newsletter

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 07:18:00 -0500

Welcome to a New Year! The IRaceLikeAGirl team is thrilled to be heading into 2021 with positivity, friendship and inspiration for women everywhere. Thank you for being a part of our IRLAG community and supporting women of all ages and abilities in our efforts to empower and motivate all women in endurance sports. It is our mission to promote fitness and positive change through movement in a fun and uplifting way which will inspire female athletes globally to embrace their strength through sport.

IRaceLikeAGirl Team Member Spotlight

Each month, we will highlight one of our fabulous athletes in this newsletter. This January, we would like you to meet Erica Pratt!

Erica Pratt “Stumbling My Way Through”

“There’s a lot to the world of triathlons and it can be intimidating and confusing. Like most things, it’s better with friends.”

I was first introduced to triathlons in 2016 when I watched my best friend do the Augusta half Ironman. She was hurting due to needing neck surgery but was determined to finish the race. I was amazed at her athleticism and endurance. Of course I wanted to try it! I knew how to swim and I was already a runner. It had been sometime since I had been on a bike, so my friend let me use her smart trainer, bike, and Zwift to try it out.

I found out that even on a trainer I really enjoyed it! I went to the local bike shop to check out their stock. Everything was beyond my price range, but fortunately they had a road bike on consignment that was my size and that I could afford. I had no idea if it was considered a good bike, if it would serve me well, or how to take care of it, but I figured it was a start.

You can read the full article about Erica’s journey into triathlon here on Girls Get Gritty.

Feature Articles from IRLAG Teammates

We have two guest bloggers who will be contributing to our web page “Girls Get Gritty” on a regular basis this season. Be on the lookout for tips on endurance training, nutrition, mental training, life balance, motherhood, strength and many other interesting topics written with the female athlete in mind.

Cynthia Falardeau will be sharing her words of inspiration and experience in her column “Sincerely, Cynthia”. Cynthia lives in Vero Beach, Florida. She is a college athlete who discovered triathlon ten years ago at the age of 45 while on the journey to better health and life balance. Cynthia shares her start to triathlon in her first blog post which you can find on the GGG webpage!

“What It Means To Race Like A Girl” is a powerful piece - one which shares Cynthia’s determination to be the best mother she can be while also forging a path to balance and health in her life. Please give it a read! Well done, Cynthia!

“I was “that kid.” The one who was taller and more developed than her peers. I longed to fit in. As the only girl in a family of three brothers, I learned how to hold my own. My brothers taught me how to shoot a basketball with great precision. In a neighborhood of boys, I was revered as “one of them.” My athletic prowess earned me respect and acceptance. However, I confess that I longed to play Barbies and experience all things full of “girl power.”

(Cynthia’s full article can be found here https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/racelikeagirl/)

Amy Woods will be sharing her experiences as a triathlete and a mother in her column “Into the Woods”. Amy lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She has two teenage children,a husband and a dog. She is also a former 8th grade teacher who recently left the classroom to spend more time with family. Although she found the sport of triathlon only three years ago, she has fallen in love with her new identity as an athlete and with the sport.

Amy’s article “The Mom/Triathlete (IM)Balance” is a great read and one which will resonate with many women in our IRLAG community. Here’s a little take away from Amy:

“Mommy guilt will happen, but it also fades. I used to rush through workouts and rush home because I felt guilty that I was training instead of being with my kids, especially as a working mom who didn’t see them all day. But as they got older, I realized that I was a better mom for taking time to exercise and do what I love. It’s easier to take care of others if you are taking care of yourself. I also realized it was not the end of the world if I didn’t make it to a little league game. Don’t worry, one day you will find yourself running a marathon instead of going to a gymnastics meet (BQ’ed, baby… worth it).”

(The full article can be found here at The Mom/Triathlete (IM)Balance by Amy Woods / I Race Like A Girl (girlsgetgritty.com)”

Cynthia and Amy, thank you for sharing your experiences with the IRLAG community! We can’t wait to read more from you in the coming months!

Team Sponsors and Discount Codes

We are featuring MoxiLife today! For complete information about the entire line of Moxilife products, please visit the website at www.moxilife.com

Code: iracelikeagirl for the discount!

For your hydration needs in training and during racing, we are highlighting the MOXiLyte™ Hydration System today.

Maxed on Minerals, Low In Sugar
4g Total Clean Carbohydrates from Carb4
Carb4 Featuring:
- Easily Digested & Proven Cluster Dextrin (reduces GI issues)
- Non GMO Dextrin
- Non GMO Maltodextrin
- Non GMO Cane Sugar
- A Premium Concentrated, *Gut Healthy Electrolyte Drink
Up to 3x more hydration
Low Sugar
Replenishes ALL Electrolytes
Patented Electrolyte with Maximum Uptake
Featuring: Amino Acid 'Activated' TRAACS™ Magnesium
Trace Micro-Minerals
Pure Himalayan Sea Salt

Be sure to check out the MoxiLife website for all products for your hydration and nutrition needs for training and recovery.

January Team Challenge

Members - check out our January Team Challenges on our IRLAG platform! Angela will be posting this coming month’s team challenge soon and will let you all know exactly what to expect as well as what sponsor prizes can be won through participation! Don’t forget to sign up!

Angela’s January Gran Fondo- Saturday, January 30, 2021 starting at 8:00am EST

Angela has created a fundraiser FONDO event for our team scholarship program! This is through Angela and her sponsors at www.angelanaeth.com/fondo. We will ride 100 miles BANDED (so we all stick together - allows you to ride for 5 hours with Angela). There will also be a zoom meetup going the whole time AND breaks every hour for 5 minutes!
$35 entry goes 100% into the 12 Scholarships for our women's program.
And there will be plenty of giveaways! Register: www.angelanaeth.com/fondo

Recipes to Love and Share- Guacamole

Guacamole is delicious and healthy as a dip or as an accompaniment to your favorite Mexican inspired meal. Here is a quick and easy recipe to make guac at home for your family!

INGREDIENTS

3 medium ripe avocados
2 tablespoons minced onions
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small jalapeno chile (stemmed, seeded, and minced), optional
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
Salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
2 tablespoons lime juice

Directions

Halve one avocado, remove the pit, and scoop into a medium bowl. Dispose of the exterior.
Mash lightly with onion, garlic, chile (if using), cilantro, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cumin (if using) with a fork until just combined.
Halve, pit, and cube the remaining two avocados.
Add the cubes to the bowl with mashed avocado mixture. Sprinkle lime juice over diced avocado and mix the entire contents of the bowl lightly with a fork until combined (but still chunky).
Adjust seasonings with salt, if needed, and serve.

Do you have a favorite, fresh recipe to share with the team? Please send it on to me at courtneyculligan@yahoo.com for inclusion in a future IRLAG newsletter.

From all of us here at IRLAG, we wish each and every one of you a safe and healthy start to the New Year!

Angela, Courtney and Stephanie